The public sector is intensifying its efforts to identify employees who engage in covertly holding multiple jobs simultaneously. This practice, referred to as “polygamous working,” has seemingly become more common with the rise of remote work; however, it can breach employment contracts and may even be considered illegal.

According to the Cabinet Office, their national anti-fraud initiative has uncovered 301 public sector employees involved in such practices since 2016, recovering £1.35 million in salaries. A recent case involved a council worker who was convicted of fraud for simultaneously holding two full-time positions at different London councils.

I spoke with an individual who had experience with multiple covert jobs to understand the measures councils and the government are implementing to combat this issue, as well as its effects on public services.

Imtiaz Shams, a tech start-up CEO in his thirties, shared that during a gap year, he worked as a finance assistant in the public sector, earning £16,000 annually for university expenses. However, he was also covertly employed in a second private sector job without his employer’s knowledge.

His recollections include, “My work was quite dull. I automated tasks using Excel and spent most of my time on Reddit. So, I took on a side contract to earn some extra money. They appreciated someone who could streamline their systems.”

While he acknowledges the ethical implications of his actions, he noted, “I shouldn’t have taken that second job, but the pay was low enough that I didn’t feel guilty. That’s ultimately why I left.”

Now in the private technology sector, Imtiaz actively promotes that his employees pursue outside interests. “Why? Because I want them to be satisfied. Talented individuals are always eager to grow. The real issue arises when they fail to deliver on their responsibilities.”

In the tech industry, salaries tend to be high, allowing for comfortable living in London. In contrast, many council workers and social workers face significant financial challenges.

Although polygamous working isn’t outright illegal, it can violate employment contracts, potentially resulting in dismissal for gross misconduct or even criminal charges.

Employment lawyer Kaajal Nathwani from Osborne & Wise points out that there is currently no formal legal definition for polygamous working, referring to it as a “new phenomenon.” She describes it as a “trend of secretly holding multiple jobs, fueled by social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.”

Nathwani explains, “It’s not inherently illegal or fraudulent, but it can become unlawful if an employment contract prohibits holding additional jobs. There may also be violations of implied trust and confidentiality in the employment relationship, regardless of what is explicitly stated in contracts.”

She notes that polygamous working differs from moonlighting, which typically involves secretly maintaining a side gig while being fully employed elsewhere, often at night.

In the past, employment contracts were more ambiguous regarding the acceptability of secondary jobs, but such clauses are increasingly being included in modern contracts.

Jobs within the public sector are funded by taxpayer dollars to provide essential services, including social work, which often involves safeguarding vulnerable children, and civil service roles in large government departments.

The government emphasizes its responsibility to taxpayers, stating, “Millions put in hard work, pay taxes, and contribute to society. We owe it to them to uphold standards of decency and accountability, ensuring that anyone who exploits the system is held accountable.”

While HMRC can detect multiple sources of income, its focus is primarily on tax compliance, which means it doesn’t see the full picture.

To tackle this issue, the government’s National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is utilizing data from various sources to match payroll, pension, and benefits records in order to identify discrepancies. Since 2016, it has recognized 301 instances of polygamous working resulting in employee dismissals or resignations, with 256 of these cases occurring in England.

In the current 2024-25 financial year, 13 instances of polygamous working have already been identified, resulting in recoverable savings of £113,000.

Barnet Council is among the pilot councils for the NFI and successfully prosecuted an individual for fraud who held full-time positions at two London councils simultaneously, recovering £10,000.

Simon Radford, the Cabinet member for Financial Sustainability, describes polygamous working as “an egregious example of taxpaying money being misused, which we will not tolerate.” He acknowledges that while remote work has its benefits, it has made it easier for individuals to hide such activities by not being present on camera during working hours.

Imtiaz corroborates this observation from his former role, stating, “I knew an employee who didn’t come to the office at all, claiming to be occupied with childcare while still receiving a salary. Such practices are widespread in the public sector, indicating a major issue.”

In August of the previous year, social worker Beatrice Eduah was found to have worked fraudulently across three different councils simultaneously and was required to reimburse one of her employers.

Imtiaz believes many public sector workers are underpaid and argues that the government is penalizing individuals in a flawed system. Radford countered that “the motives behind polygamous working are not clear, but Barnet Council’s pay is competitive within our sector. Fraudulent dual employment, regardless of one’s public or private sector salary, is still a crime.”

Imtiaz expressed concern that “higher-level officials often evade consequences,” adding that the pressure seems to be disproportionately directed at lower and middle-income employees who genuinely need the extra income. “It doesn’t sit well with me,” he confessed.

Radford, however, emphasized that all instances would be prosecuted, asserting, “Whether they’re at the top or bottom, if someone is engaging in polygamous work, we have zero tolerance for it and will take action.”

Challenging the stereotype that public sector workers don’t exert as much effort as their private counterparts, Radford remarked, “What this situation reveals is that when employees aren’t contributing adequately to taxpayer-funded roles, there will be scrutiny, and they will be caught.”

Barnet Council is currently addressing several other fraud cases related to polygamous working.

Alex Burghart MP, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has accused the government of failing to adequately supervise secondary employment in the civil service, stating, “Taxpayers expect public sector efficiency and transparency, yet Labour has created an overgrown system operating in secrecy.”

In response, Cabinet Office Minister Josh Simons commented, “Fraudsters collecting multiple salaries from the public sector are damaging public trust. Through the National Fraud Initiative, we are partnering with councils to identify these individuals. By matching payroll, pension, and benefits data, we are uncovering the discrepancies these criminals attempt to conceal.”

He also noted that for the first time, 14 government departments are participating in this initiative. The usage of their Fraud Hub database, which tracks staff dismissed for fraud to prevent reemployment in government positions, has seen a 30% increase.

Simons added that efforts to enhance data matching are ongoing, “with aims to address these risks even more vigorously.”

As remote work facilitates the conditions for “polygamous working,” the increasing scrutiny from local authorities and the government suggests that those attempting to maintain multiple jobs clandestinely may find it increasingly difficult to evade detection.